Vehicle running gear



yMalrch l5 1927.

A. H. FAGER VEHI CLE RUNNING GEAR Filed July 7. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Mardi l5 1927" A. H. FAGER VEHICLE RUNNING GEAR Filed July 7, 1926 2Sheets-Sheet 2 HQ@ v -I i wheels to a motor truck or other vehicle.

vPatented Mai". 15., 1927, i

1,620,809 PATENT oFFlCE.

' H. FAGEB, 0F LGS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

vnHrcLE RUNNING GEAR,

Application led July 7, 1926. i Serial Nuo. 121,039.4

,The present invention relates to vehicle running gear, and thisapplication is a continuation in part of application ASerial No. 75,394,led Dec. 14, 1925.

One object of the invention is to provide novel means for attaching apair ofextra Another object is to provide a novel cornpensatingconnection of the extra or additional wheels withthe frame and wheelaxle (preferably the rear axle) of the chassis, to provide for acompensating action due to changes of wheel loads when 'passing overirregularities in the surface of a road.

., A further object is to provide a suitable connection betweentwo pairsof wheels and the frame, enabling either pair of wheels `to moveupwardly and downwardly relatively to the frame, but distributing thestresses and strains between, the two pairs of wheels.

' A still further object is the provision of means for connecting anextra pair of'wheels to the' frame and wheelaxle of a motor truckchassis or other vehicle, to permit either pair of connected wheels tomove upwardly and downwardly relatively to the frame, but transmittingthe greater part of the load to the4 regular wheels of the chassis.

Still another object is the provision ofnovel means for connecting awheel axle with levers or other members connected with the vehicle framefor upward and downward movement, whereby the axle may oscillate as wellas move upwardly and downwardly when passing over uneven surfaces.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent asthe description proceeds, the invention resides 1n the construction andarrangement of parts, as hereinafter' described and claimed, itbeingunderstood that changes can be made within thev Scope of what isclaimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The'invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein-Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved structure, with thenearwheels removed and the axles shown in section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a transverse" section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, portionsbeing shown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a section on'the line 3-,3 of

Fig. 4 is a sectienal daail'of a. modifica tion, showing tion. Only aportion of a motor truck chassis 1s shown in the' drawings, 'includingthe frame 7 and rear axle housing 8, the attachment belng applied to therear axle of the lthe wheels and axle in elevay truck as shown, and therear axle has a wheel9 at each end, as usual.

yIn applying the attachment to the chassis, a depending bracket or rigidhanger 10 lis suitably secured to the frame 7 at each side thereof infront ofthe rear axle housing 8, and a radius bar 11 is pivoted, at itsrear end, as at 13, to the axle housing 8, and has its forward endbifurcated and pivoted, as at 12, to the head 12a of a pintle 12bmounted for rotation within a longitudinal bearing 10El of the'bracket10, with nuts 12 on the forward terminal of thepintle 12b to hold saidpintle in place. The pintle 12h may rotate in the bearing 10a. and withthe pivot 12, provides a universal joint connection between the radiusbar 11 and bracket] 10, permitting the rear axle to move upas at 16",with outstanding ears at the adjacent endsof the sections securedtogether by means of bolts 17 or otherwise, while the forward arm of theother lever 14 is lformed with an aperture 16b whose'upper and lowerwalls are convexed. as seen in Fig. 2.

' The attachment includes an extra axle 18, which 1s a dropped axle asshown, and the extra pair of wheels 19-arel mounted for rotation on theusual spindles with which Athe ends of the axle 18 are formed. f Theaxle 18 is dropped between the wheels 19, as seen in Fig. 2, andthe axleis provided with the stubs or portions 18a and 18b extending inwardlyfrom'the end portions of the axle in alinement with the spindles.

The stub 18"I is connected with thelever -14 which has the band 16 `foroscillatory motion, iwhile the stub 18'? is 4connected to i the lever 14which has the aperture 16" for sliding and` oscillatory motion, topermit the axle 18 to oscillate even though tlie levers 14 move inlongitudinal vertical planes. Thus, the stub 18", which isA of .squareor angular cross-section extends shdably through the apertu-re 16b whichis'of 'similarV cross-section, so that the axle .18 is prevented fromturning, andtle stub 18vb may slide and oscillate in the aperture 16".YA ball member 20 is secured on'the stub 18,

being. split diametrically and the sections thereof having ears 20nsecuredtogether,

as -at 20", by bolts or other securing elements. Thus, the ball member20 is readily clampedon the stub 18a. d liner or bushff ing21 is clampedwithin the band 16, and* is also preferably split similar torthe band,and the ball member 20 is fitted for osclllation within the bushing or'liner 21, the periphery of the member 20 and inner .periphery of thebushing 21 bein'gspherical to permit the member 20 to turn freely Withinthe bushing. Thus, the axle 18 is secured to the menber 20 which mayoscillate relatively tothe corresponding lever 14,

and the stub 18" may also oscillate or rock in the a erture 16b as wellas slide therein,

which wlll'permit the axle 18 to rock trans-f versely of the truck orvehicle, due to the wheels 19 atthe opposite sides passing overlirregularities in the surface of the road. The ball member'20 andbushing 21 provide a ball and. socket or universal joint con-` nectionbetween the axle 18 and correspond-- r ing lever 14, permitting offreedom or flexirear end portion of the frame 7 in any well vstressesfrom one tothe other.

nated leaf springs 23 are secured by suitable.

clamps 24 on the axle housing 8 for supporting the rame 7 yieldably onksaid axle housing, the rear ends of the springs 23 being connected byshackles 24a' with the known manner. The' forward ends of the springs 23are connected by links 25 Iwith the rear arms of the levers 14, theupper ends of the links being pivotally connected, as at 26, with theforward ends of the springs, and the lower ends of the links beingpivotally connected, asl at 27, with the rear ends ofthe levers 14.

In the arrangement shown and described. part of the weight of the loadis transmitted from the frame 7 to the rear ends of' the springs 23 andthence to the rear axle, and

part of the weight is transmitted by the brackets 10 to the levers 14from which it is distributed to the rear axle and additional axle 18.When a stress or strain occurs, tending'to move the axle 8 and frame 7toward one another, there is a tendency to move the levers 14 downwardlyand theA springs 23 upgwardlyrelatively`to one another, the vlevers 14being swung downwardly on the axis of the axle 18, whereby the do'wnwardpull on the links 25 will flex or bend the forward portions ofthesprings 23, vThe same action occurs when the wheels 19 pass*- over anobstruction, inasmuch as the levers 14 are swung" (counter clock-.wlseas seen 1n IFig. 1) to pull the links 25and forward terminalsofthesprings 23 downwardly, thereby imposmg greater pressure on the rearI 4 'yf-Ef axle 8. When the frame 7 and axle 8fniovey ftoward oneanother, such as when the wheelsv 9 pass over an obstructlon, there 1s atendf ency for the springs23 to raise the. links 25, thereby swingingthe rear arms ofthe levers y14 upwardly and-imposing greater'f pressureon the axle 18, the springs 23 yield ing to distribute thestresses andstrains between the two axles and pairs of wheels.v

Fig. 4 shows a modification in thatbothl l'evers have the bands 16 inwhich ball members 20 are lmounted `for oscillation, vwith the axle 18extending through said members 20'. Liners or bushings 21 are disposedwithin the bands 16 and the outer periph# eries of the members 20 and.inner peripheries of the bushings 21 are spherical tov permit themembers 20 to oscillate in the bushings. The axle 18` and one member 20are secured together. as atV 20, toprevent the axle sliding in saidmember, but the axle 8 is slidable through the other member 20, in orderthat the axle may oscillate transversely when the wheels 19 pass overuneven surfaces, itfbeing lunderstood that the bands 16 and members 20move up-- wardly and downwardly in longitudinal ver tical planes. l r

With either form, one wheel ofthe extra pair may move in a hole or rutin a road or over a hump or obstruction while the other wheel moves on alevel surface` or one wheel may move into a rut or hole while the otherwheel moves over a hump or obstruction, inasmuch as the axle of theextra pairs of wheels is free to oscillate transversely as well as moveupwardly and down- WardIy.` Thus, the axle has an oscillatory orrocking' connection with one lever or member ,-14 and has a sliding andoscillatory or rocking connection with. the other lever, permittingtheaxle to oscillate when the levers or.` members 14 move upwardly anddownwardly relatively to one another.

icc

Having thus described the invention, what i is claimed as new is i e 1.The combmation of `a vehicle frame,y

Amembers at opposite sides connected with' n u l 2. The combination of avehicle frame,

levers at opposite sides connected with the frame for upward anddownward swinging movementl about a transverse axis, and a wheel axlehaving an oscillatory connection' with one lever and having anoscillatory and sliding connection with the other lever.

3. The combination of a vehicle frame, members at opposite sidesconnected with the frame for upward and downward movement, an axlehaving an oscillatory and sliding connection with one of said members.and a ball member secured to said axle and mounted for oscillatorymovement in the other member. l

4. The combination of a vehicle frame, opposite side members connectedwith the frame for upward. and downward move.- me'nt, one member havingan aperture, a ball member mounted for oscillatory movement in the othermember, and an axle having a portion extending thi'ough said ballmeinber and a portion slidable through said aperture.

5. The combination of a vehicle frame. levers at opposite sidesconnected with said frame for upward and downward swingingr movementabout a transverse axis, one lever having an aperture, a ball membermounted in the other lever for rotarv movement therein. and an axlehaving a. portion extending through said ball member and a portionextending through said aperture. the last named portion being adapted toslideand oscillate in said aperture.

(. The combination with a vehicle frame.

of members at oppositesides connected with the frame for upward anddownward movement. a pair of wheels. an axle for said wheels and droppedbetween said wheels, said axle having inwardly7 extending stubs atitsends' with one 4stub having an oscillatory connection with thecorresponding member and the other stub having an oscillatory andsliding connection with the other member.

7. The combination-with a vehicle frame. of members atopposite sidesconnected with the frame for upward and downward movement` one memberhaving an aperture ot angular form, a ball member mounted in the othermember for oscillatorv movement, a pair of wheels, an axle for saidwheels dropped between said wheels, the axle having inwardly extendingstubs at its ends, one stub extendinothrough and being secured to saidball member, and the other stub being of angular cross-section andextending through said aperture for sliding and oscillatory movementstherein.

8. The combination with a vehicle comprising a frame, an axle withwheels thereon,

and lea-f springs supported bv the axle and supporting said frame, of anextra axle with l wheelsl thereon, levers pivotallv connected v withsaid frame, said extra axle having oscillatory and sliding connectionswith said levers, andmeans connecting said levers and lealil springs.

9. The combination with a vehicle commovements of said extra axlerelatively to -said levers, and links connecting the other arms ofl saidlevers and the other ends of said springs.l

10. The combination with a vehicle comprising a frame. an axle withwheels thereon and leaf springs supported by said axle and supportingsaid frame. of an extra axle with -wheels thereon, brackets attached tosaid frame, levers fulcrumed to said brackets and connected with saidextra axle for the oscillatory1 motion of said axle relatively to saidlevers, radius bars connected to the first named axle and said brackets,and means connecting said levers and springs.

11. The combination with a vehicle comprising a frame. an axlewithwheels thereonv and leat` springs mounted between their ends on saidaxle and connected at one endwith said frame, of an extra axle withwheels thereon, brackets secured to said frame between said axles,leversfulcrumed to said brackets between the ends of the levers. one armof each lever being connected with the extra axle for the oscillatorymotion of said axle relatively to said levers, links connecting theother arms 'of said levers and the other ends of said springs, andradius bars connecting the first named axle and brackets.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my

